Roadrunner Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Blog

Help! My Furnace Won’t Stay On

Temperatures have certainly dropped in recent weeks, necessitating the use of our heating systems. Hopefully, you had maintenance completed before this heating season began to take care of any adjustments or repairs that might have been necessary. If not, it’s not too late to schedule an appointment now!

Regardless of whether you had maintenance done or not, when your furnace stops working as it should, you naturally want a quick solution. One of the most common service calls we get is in regards to furnaces that won’t stay lit. There are a number of potential causes for this—keep reading to discover a few.

Thermostat Error

Sometimes the problem may not be with the furnace at all, but rather the thermostat used to control the temperature in your home. If there’s ever anything wrong with your furnace turning on, first check the thermostat to see that it’s set to the correct temperature and that it is not malfunctioning.

Pilot Light

Your furnace’s pilot light is the continuously burning flame that is used to light the burner and start the furnace. If this is out, then the furnace has no way to start, and your heat simply will not work. Take a look under your furnace—some have a window into the unit itself. If you do not see the pilot light, then this is the cause of your furnace failure.

Gas Valve

This component controls how much gas flows into your furnace. If there’s a problem with the gas valve, then the furnace won’t light because it won’t have fuel to burn. If your pilot light is still lit but your furnace isn’t turning on, this could be the reason. Another possible cause is that there’s a leak or blockage in the gas line that is preventing enough fuel from getting to the furnace.

Burner

The burner is what keeps your furnace lit, and is controlled by the thermostat. Occasionally, there might be parts of the burner that break or become dirty, and are unable to light or keep a flame going after contact with the pilot light. If everything else seems to be working fine but the burner itself is not lighting, you’d be wise to call in a professional technician.